Protective effects of Atractylenolide III on inflammation and oxidative stress in ovalbumin-induced asthma mice and its possible mechanisms.

Abstract

Asthma is a complex disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways. We aimed to investigate the role of Atractylenolide III (ATL III) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse asthma. Asthma was induced to BALB/c mice by sensitization with intraperitoneal injection of OVA, followed by treatment with ATL III. Pathological changes in lung tissue were examined by hematoxylin/ eosin and sirius red staining. The levels of inflammation- and oxidative stress-related factors in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were monitored using kits. Additionally, the contents of inflammatory cells including macrophages, lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in BALF were counted. The expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was tested using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assay. Results revealed that ATL III markedly attenuated OVA-induced pathological injury of lung tissues in mice. Furthermore, ATL III controlled the cytokines production and balanced the oxidative stress condition, which was exhibited by the reduced levels of inflammation- and oxidative stress-related factors. Moreover, mice in ATL III-treated groups presented less inflammatory cells in BALF and ATL III largely inhibited STAT3 expression in lung tissues. Taken together, ATL III alleviates inflammation, oxidative stress and is associated with changes in pulmonary functions in a mouse asthma model through inhibiting STAT3.